FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  422 (06/07/04)

Q

I have just bought a new computer with Windows XP and I'm getting to grips with WordPad etc. It's a great improvement on previous packages I've used, without all the clutter that made Word such a pain to use. But I can't find the button that gives me a word count for the document I'm working on. As a medical journalist the word count is essential and I'm missing it! Could you let me know how to find it or where on the web I can find a download?

Jane Sullivan, via email

A

At best WordPad only rates as an emergency word processor and as a journalist you really should be using something a little more sophisticated. There is no word count in WordPad and I’m not aware or any add-ons that will give you this facility though at a pinch you could try using it in conjunction with Microsoft’s free Word Viewer utility. (Google search ‘word viewer’ and it should be at the top of the list.).

Better yet, why not try one of the many free word processors on the web? My current favourite is an Open Source application called AbiWord from www.abiword.com/. This has many of the best features of Word, including word count and a spellchecker plus it can read and write in Word’s *.doc file format.

Q

My computer is using Windows 98SE. When I use the Help system to go to any of the Troubleshooters, I can only get the first page of choices. Once I make a choice, the next page is always blank. Presumably some of my files are missing, but when I reinstall Windows on top of the present installation it makes no difference.

Bruce Hewitt, via email

A

This may be due to a corrupt registry or a problem with the Troubleshooter files but either ways it’s easy to fix. If your Windows installation files are not on your hard disc load your Windows CD then go to Windows Explorer and navigate your way to C:\Windows\Inf. Right click on ‘Tshoot.inf’ then select Install from the menu and it will reload the Troubleshooter files and reset the Registry.

Q

I have just taken delivery of a new computer, which runs Windows XP Pro. I will be using it for Internet banking, purchasing goods on-line, a new small business I am setting up and general computing.  I've always used
McAfee AntiVirus protection and Firewall and hope to continue to do so, but I am feeling bamboozled by advice on other types of security. I know there are spam checkers, spyware checkers, evidence eliminators and probably many more types of security software but just how many, if any, of these should I be using to protect the information stored on the computer and unauthorised access to the files?
Pam White, via email

A

A virus scanner and firewall is a good start but for complete protection I would also recommend a weekly scan with a cleaner utility like AdAware or Spybot (www.lavasoftusa.com and www.safer-networking.org/), they are both free and will keep your PC free of Spyware, Adware and Trojans which can reveal personal or private information or provide a backdoor into your PC to hackers. As an added precaution I would also install and run a small program called ‘Hijack This’ (free from: www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html). This checks your browser for the more devious spyware components and other nasties, like homepage hijackers, however, use it with care and don’t delete anything without highlighting the item and clicking the ‘Info’ button first.

Q

Like everyone else, I get fed up with IE when it lops off some of the screen when printed, so I was interested to see you mention it in Boot Camp 331, and especially your recommendation to use "fit to page". Sounds great I thought! I've got IE version 6, but I can't find this feature - am I missing something?

Dick Coleman

A

The lack of 'Fit to Page' could be due to your printer’s driver software. The option may be missing if it was installed using standard Windows drivers, try uninstalling the printer and reinstalling using the driver disc that came with your printer.

Q

On attempting to open a recent download, the following message appeared: 'Cannot find ACRORD32.EXE'. This program is needed for opening files of type 'Adobe Acrobat Document'. Assuming that the file would be on the W98 SE system disc, I attempted to extract it from that source only to receive the following message: 'File Not Found. Repeat attempts produced the same result. Should the file be on the W98 SE system disk? If so, any idea why the failure to find it? If not, any idea where I can obtain it?

Brian Robinson, via email

A

The file mentioned belongs to Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, which is needed to read portable document (pdf) files available from many web sites. It’s not part of Windows so you won’t find it on the CD-ROM. The error message is probably the result of a failed installation in which case go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and if you see a reference to Adobe Acrobat click Remove, you can then install or reinstall the program by going to: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Q

I have two PCs both using Windows Me, on one when I switch to DOS I can get the £-sign on the other the #- sign appears when I type the £-key, also on this PC the' @ ' and ' " ' keys are reversed. There is no problem when working in Windows. Both PCs use the same keyboard.

R. Mickleburgh, via email

A

This problem only seems to affect Windows ME and the solution is to open a DOS window and at the flashing prompt type ‘C:\Windows\System’ then type ‘msconfig’ (all without the quotes). Select the International tab and in the Language drop-down menu make sure that English (British) is selected. The MS Code Page box should read 850 and Country Code should be 044, click OK, exit and reboot.